HB 1602

AN ACT relating to the prosecution and punishment of a criminal offense

House Bill • Rosenthal
Filed

Filed

Bill introduced by legislator

Committee

Hearing

Passed Cmte

Calendar

Passed

Sent

Enrolled

Governor

Signed

89th Regular Session

Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended

Awaiting Committee Assignment

Bill filed, pending referral to House committee

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Committee

Not yet assigned

Fiscal Note

Not available

What This Bill Does

Strengthens penalties for making false child abuse reports, making it a third-degree felony if the person has a previous conviction or commits the false report due to bias or prejudice. The law applies to new offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025, and targets individuals who deliberately file fraudulent child abuse reports with the intent to deceive. This legislation aims to protect children and the integrity of child protective reporting systems by imposing more serious criminal consequences on repeat or maliciously motivated false reporters.

Subject Areas

Family--Child Protection Crimes--Against Persons--Sexual Minors--Crimes Against

Bill Text

relating to the prosecution and punishment of a criminal offense
relating to making false statements or reports of child abuse or
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Section 261.107(a), Family Code, is amended to
(a)  A person commits an offense if, with the intent to
deceive, the person knowingly makes a report as provided in this
chapter that is false.  An offense under this subsection is:
(2)  [unless it is shown on the trial of the offense
that the person has previously been convicted under this section,
in which case the offense is] a felony of the third degree if it is
shown on the trial of the offense that the person:
(A)  has previously been convicted under this
(B)  committed the offense because of bias or
prejudice as described by Article 42.014, Code of Criminal
SECTION 2.  Section 261.107(a), Family Code, as amended by
this Act, applies only to an offense committed on or after the
effective date of this Act.  An offense committed before the
effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the
date the offense was committed, and the former law is continued in
effect for that purpose.  For purposes of this section, an offense
was committed before the effective date of this Act if any element
of the offense occurred before that date.
SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

Bill Sponsors

Legislators who authored or co-sponsored this bill.

Jon Rosenthal

Jon Rosenthal

Primary Author
R House District 135

Bill History

filed

Bill filed: AN ACT relating to the prosecution and punishment of a criminal offense

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